Effective Monday, February 25, 2013, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics core clinical chemistry laboratory will begin running some of the anti-nuclear antigen (ANA)-related tests (e.g., double-stranded DNA antibodies, SS-A antibodies) on the Bio-Rad Bioplex 2200 analyzer.  Some of these replace existing tests available either in the Immunopathology Laboratory or as mailouts, while several are new tests.

The "ANTI-NUCLEAR ANTIBODY (ANA) SCREEN WITH REFLEX TO TITER BY IFA" (LAB1256) will continue to be the ANA screening method.  The screening cutoff for ANA testing will be moved to 1:80 from 1:40 to reduce the number of low level ANA positive results.

First-time positive double-stranded DNA antibody results will be confirmed by Crithidia immunofluorescence at no additional charge as is current practice.  Scl-70 antibody will continue to be run in the Immunopathology laboratory.

Details on the tests are as follows:

Test name	Epic #	Specimen*	Laboratory
Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA) screen with reflex titer by IFA	LAB1256	Red top	Immunopathology
Centromere B Antibody	LAB7828	Light green PST**	Core laboratory
Chromatin Antibody	LAB7827	Light green PST**	Core laboratory
Double-stranded DNA Antibody	LAB1299	Light green PST**	Core laboratory
JO-1 Antibody	LAB3455	Light green PST**	Core laboratory
Ribosomal P Protein	LAB3995	Light green PST**	Core laboratory
RNP Antibody	LAB1249	Light green PST**	Core laboratory
Scl-70 Antibody	LAB1349	Red top	Immunopathology
Sm/RNP (Common Motif) Antibodies	LAB1346	Light green PST**	Core laboratory
Smith Antibody	LAB1250	Light green PST**	Core laboratory
SS-A Antibody	LAB344	Light green PST**	Core laboratory
SS-B Antibody	LAB345	Light green PST**	Core laboratory

* 3 mL whole blood or two pediatric microtainers.
** Light green PST (lithium heparin plasma separator tube) is preferred specimen type.  However, lavender/pink EDTA and red top tubes can also be used for these tests.

Questions should be directed to Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD, medical director of the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory (384-9380, matthew-krasowski@uiowa.edu).